SINGAPORE: It is truly surprising when an endangered animal is found hiding inside a washing machine in a home at Bukit Batok.

The Animal Concern Research and Education Society (ACRES) shared that they received a report last May 25 that residents in Bukit Batok had encountered a very unusual animal in their watching machine, as reported by 8world News. 

According to data, Malaysian pangolins, also known as Sunda pangolins, are one of the world’s most trafficked mammals. There are over a million pangolins globally that have been taken from the wild since 2000, and their species is predicted to decline by an additional 80% within the next two decades if they are not protected.

Upon seeing the animal, the authorities became curious and intrigued, knowing that this was the first time they had encountered such a shocking situation. 

With this, rescuers quickly advised the homeowners through phone communication to avoid using the washing machine until the animal was saved. When rescuers arrived at the location, they successfully managed to save the pangolin after exerting so much effort. 

“Although we have rescued animals from washing machines before, this is the first time we have rescued a Malayan pangolin from a washing machine… This Malayan pangolin will eventually be released back into the wild. Although it was not injured, it was frightened during the rescue,” ACRES remarked. 

Given that the incident happened near a nature reserve, the authorities suspect that the pangolin came from that place. 

ACRES encourages the public to message them or call their hotline if they encounter wild animals in danger and in need of assistance. 

Other related news 

Another animal in Singapore that is very popular is birds, and most of them are becoming a nuisance to the members of the public. There was a recent report where birds directly fly onto the tables and snatch diners’ food at a coffee shop in Toa Payoh. 

With this, the diners admitted that it was difficult to send them away, and the vendors even made their own partitions to prevent the birds from entering.

Read more about the news story here.

This article (Bukit Batok residents shocked to find pangolin inside washing machine) first appeared on The Independent Singapore News.

TOKYO, June 2 — A bear attack left four people injured in two factories and a residential area in northern Japan’s Fukushima today, police and media reports said.

A record 13 people were killed by bears in Japan last year, and there has been a jump in sightings as the animals emerge hungry from hibernation.

“A bear-related human injury incident... occurred in Fukushima City, injuring four people,” the prefectural police said in a statement.

The bear was first spotted in a car parts factory, prompting an emergency call explaining that “employees had been bitten”, the Yomiuri Shimbun daily reported citing police and fire department officials.

As the bear continued its rampage, two other people were injured, one in a residential area and the other on the premises of an electronic equipment manufacturer nearby, the Yomiuri said, adding that the animal was thought to have remained inside the factory.

The report said one of those attacked was heavily injured, while the rest suffered only mild injuries.

In the last fiscal year to March, bear sightings nationwide topped 50,000, more than double the previous record set two years earlier, according to official data.

The animals were seen entering homes, roaming near schools and rampaging through supermarkets and hot spring resorts on an almost daily basis.

Record sightings have been reported again this year as the bears emerge from their winter slumber, according to local media.

In April, bear attacks killed one person and injured five others, according to the environment ministry.

There have also been more than a dozen bear sightings reported on the outskirts of Tokyo this year, with a Russian man in his 30s reportedly mauled as he hiked in the city last month. — AFP